Invest Buffalo Niagara works as a concierge service to these companies and helps them navigate issues they may be unfamiliar with, such as legal, financial, and human resource matters.

The news this morning that Athenex has scored $100 million in new investment is another sign that big things are coming for the Buffalo-based developer of cancer therapies.

“This is the big picture,” said Steven Ranalli, president of Erie Canal harbor Development Corp. “This is what we want to do over the next 20 years.”

A presentation by Invest Buffalo Niagara officials Tuesday left members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency board of directors hopeful of luring companies to ready and near-ready sites in the county.

Long known as the “City of Good Neighbors,” Buffalo and its environs have a well-developed support network that helps New Americans acclimate to a new country.

“When an industry leader like M&T comes out publicly at their annual meeting and says, ‘We’re placing our bet on Buffalo in the tech sector,’ that’s a really strong signal to others in the industry, that they believe they can find strong success here and others could, as well,” Rosenhoch said.